John Rooke - Thinking Out Loud

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Saturday, June 23, 2012

John Rooke, GoLocalProv Sports Editor

Thinking out loud…while wondering whatever happened to KC and the Sunshine Band…

• He was supposed to get it, right? LeBron James got his ring. YAWN…

• Miami came from down 2-1 to Indiana, and 3-2 to Boston. That says something, sure…but James deserves the lions’ share of credit, however. He simply became unguardable during the playoffs, which in turn made the Heat unstoppable. And seeing the joy on his face during the sideline celebration almost makes him likable…

• I do believe, however, that Kevin Durant is bound to earn at least a couple before his professional basketball career comes to an end, provided he stays healthy…

• KG’s gonna stay. Someone needs to color Celtics’ mascot Lucky’s beard gray…

• So the powers-that-be ruling college football – the BCS commissioners and Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick – have decided on a four-team playoff (to be voted upon by college presidents) that would begin in 2014. Fine. This was inevitability; an eventuality you knew had to happen in order to satiate our desire for all things “bracketology” in sports, if not in life itself. But it didn’t have to come to this…

• Don Cravens and John Jackson from Austin, TX have come up with a plan they had hoped to get in front of the commissioners…and now, perhaps the presidents themselves since they will ultimately decide college football’s playoff path. The plan is ridiculously simple, and it keeps the current bowl system in place. Under their plan, college football's existing bowl games, conference/bowl affiliations and BCS rankings system would remain intact, with teams seeded nationally based on the regular season's final BCS poll. After all college bowls are played — culminating in the four BCS bowls — the two remaining highest-seeded teams would advance to the title game…

• This plan would keep proponents of college football’s regular season happy – because the season would definitely still mean something. Bowl games and their respective communities would be happy, because nothing changes. Playoff proponents would be happy. And most of all, TV would be deliriously happy, because you would have a meaningful season, and a suspenseful build-up into the post-season that would keep fans and viewers tuned in. Makes almost too much sense, doesn’t it? That’s why it’ll never happen…

• Are you surprised Roger Clemens “got off?” I’m no CSI expert, but if you followed any of the testimony, the evidence against him was circumstantial at best. The prosecutions’ star witness, Brian McNamee, had zero credibility. So he didn’t perjure himself. I think we all realize that while Clemens may have some level of vindication here, in the court of public opinion, he’s still persona-non-grata…

• This being said, however…I do believe that at some point, Clemens gets into the Hall of Fame. His achievements on the field – enhanced by PED’s or not – are undeniable. It will take some time for “steroid era” players to gain favor, certainly. And you can make a great argument to leave them all out. But to me, it’s a similar story with Pete Rose. What these two men did for the sport on the field is unquestionable. What they did to it OFF the field, is shameful. The Hall, however, should be for baseball achievement ON the field. Period…

• The Friars may have had their difficulties luring big men to campus for 2012-13, but that hasn’t kept the coaching staff from continuing their aggressive approach on the recruiting trail. On campus this week were several highly rated recruits, including 2013 6-6 recruit Mike LeBlanc from New Hampton Prep, 2014’s 6-8 Noah Vonleh (New Hampton), 6-3 Kaleb Joseph (Cushing Academy), 6-9 Matt Cimino (Worcester Academy), 6-0 Jalen Adams (Melrose, MA) and 2015 prospects Jeremy Miller (6-9, Milton, MA) and 6-10 Josh Sharma (Northfield Mt. Hermon). These are players…and more are on their way to visit…

• As for the upcoming season, much has been speculated over 6-9 Arizona transfer Sidiki Johnson and whether he’ll ever see the floor for the Friars. The subject of rumor and debate over school work, alleged disciplinary issues, a possible transfer and perhaps medical problems as well, Johnson is enrolled in summer school at PC, and the team expects him to report for the session – with other team members – on July 2. And redshirt freshman guard Kiwi Gardner is included in this group, even if the roster won’t shake out completely until sometime later in July…

• Billy Baron to PC? Anyone, anyone? Following his father Jim to Canisius certainly makes sense…but you never know…

• Not for nuthin’…a sign of the times and it seems to be getting nastier by the minute: Seen on the back of a truck, traveling on Rte. 128 this week – “Support Our Troops. We may need them to overthrow the government…”

• Rhode Island’s minimum wage will increase to $7.75 an hour next January 1st. Isn’t this a little like a squirt gun trying to put out a bonfire?

• Keep it coming love…you heard about the New Jersey boy who emptied his piggy bank, sending a total of $3.36 to his favorite NY Giant Brandon Jacobs to try and keep him from signing with San Francisco? Well, the move didn’t work. But it did get 6-year-old Joseph Armento the thrill of his young life when Jacobs returned the gesture by taking Armento and his brother to a “bounce house” for fun and games, and he received a signed Giants helmet…

• Honesty is always the best policy. Tom Brady’s answer to a question posed by Sports Illustrated in an interview for SI.com this week: “There are rumors that you guys (Tom and wife Gisele Bundchen) are having a third (child). I don't know if you want to get into that or not.” His answer? “I like working on it.”

• My buddy Statbeast sez it must be great to be someone like Brady. He probably doesn’t have to monitor his friends’ sex lives…

• It’s official – 10 teams will sit out of the 2013 college basketball post-season due to academic deficiencies from 2007-08 through 2010-11. It’s called the APR, short for Academic Progress Report…and UConn’s Huskies won’t make the grade next season. Neither will Bilal Dixon’s new team, the Towson Tigers…

• The Big East has already decided that any team not eligible for the post-season would also be ineligible for conference tournaments and the tourney at MSG next March will be adjusted accordingly. Oh, and one more thing…all banned teams face additional sanctions of losing a minimum of four hours of practice time per week, which must be replaced by academic activities…

• Think the Huskies would forfeit their men’s and women’s hoop success, their BCS bowl appearance or their baseball super-regional appearance – all in the 2010-11 academic year – if they could? Not on your life. Stupid is as stupid does…

• By comparison, Brown’s athletic programs ranked #2 nationally in the APR, out of 335 Division I schools, as GoLocalProv.com reported earlier this week. Draw your own conclusions…

• UConn’s hockey program, however, has something to look forward to. The Huskies accepted an invitation this week to become the 12th program in Hockey East, after Notre Dame joins in 2013. UConn, however, will upgrade its’ program to add scholarships…which they presently don’t have…and play league home games at the XL Center in Hartford…

• So Big Papi says playing in Boston is “becoming the (bleep) hole it used to be?” He said that this week to CSNNE’s Sean McAdam. Papi, I don’t think you’re the one we (bleep)-holers are concerned with…

• Think someone could tell Dice-K that American baseball starts with the FIRST inning? Just sayin’…

• We called it here, and many others called it as well…when do you think the Red Sox will admit that the Daniel Bard-reliever-turned-starter debacle was just that? One word: Never…

• I can name the cure for Red Sox clubhouse toxicity (it was called “toxic” this week by a national columnist) in three words: Remove. Josh. Beckett…

• Curt Schilling’s appearance on WEEI’s Dennis & Callahan this week was nothing more than a PR move, and he found two guys who he knew would be sympathetic toward him. D&C both publicly ripped him apart in the aftermath of 38 Studios failure. So, I found the entire 90 minutes on the air somewhat disingenuous on all fronts. I do, however, believe there is sincerity in his words for his former employees…especially with so much of his personal fortune tied up in the business…

• Schilling has an entirely new ballgame to play now. It’s called “Rock ‘em, Sock ‘em lawsuits,” as creditors begin lining up…

• The bottom line in the 38 Studios disaster? Our legislators made poor decisions. If you’re still upset with Schilling, ok – but if you’re upset with the state – do something about it in November…

• Have you seen the video of the Greece, NY bus monitor who was berated by school kids on her bus? It may be one of the most vile, disgusting acts of juvenile disrespect I’ve ever seen. A word of warning – it ain’t pretty. Within a matter of hours, almost $200K was raised for this lady who took the verbal abuse, now more than $500K…so she could go on a vacation. And now the kids are beginning to apologize...why?  Because they've been embarrassed into it...

• The first day of summer this week was also the hottest day of the year – so far. Loved it. Now, the days start getting shorter. Hope that gives you a little chill in the right places…

• Played Valley Country Club in Warwick this week, as part of a charity tournament for the Sargent Rehabilitation Center. The course is in fantastic shape…as many must be with our wet spring this year. Get out and enjoy it…

• Ever heard of the term “earworm?” You know that crazy, stupid song you can’t get out of your head and keeps repeating over and over and over again? This week, mine has been “Keep It Coming Love,” a ‘70’s disco classic from KC and the Sunshine Band. Together since forming in Miami in 1973, the group is still touring today. Keep it coming love, don’t stop it now – don’t stop it no – don’t stop it now, don’t stop it…please help me…

• Our mailbag question/comment this week comes from Doug via Twitter: “Why is the NBA getting to be as predictable and fake as pro wrestling?” Doug: Great question, and I’m not copping out here, but I’m not certain there’s a definitive answer. Probably because they think they have all the answers. David Stern got all “up in arms” over the question of the draft lottery being “fixed” when Jim Rome asked him about it…so I don’t think he (or anyone else) will directly address the issue(s). The NBA won’t correct the problem – or the impression of a problem – until fans start turning away from the product. When and if they do, the league will finally take notice…

• Interested in having your questions on local RI sports (including the Patriots, Red Sox, Bruins and Celtics) answered in a somewhat timely fashion? Send ‘em to me! It’s your chance to “think out loud,” so send your questions and comments to jrooke@golocalprov.com. We’ll share mailbag comments/Facebook posts/Tweets right here! Follow me on Twitter, @jrooke0722…and on Facebook, www.facebook.com/john.rooke ...

• And you’re up early anyway…don’t forget to join us for GoLocal Sports on 103.7 FM, every Saturday from 7:00-9:00 am! Call in (401) 737-1287, or text 850850…and send email to the show - golocal@weei.com .
 

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